Volatile profile, physico-chemical parameters and antioxidant activity of leatherwood honey: are these linked to annual climate?

The volatile profile, physico-chemical properties and antioxidant activity of leatherwood honey samples from 2015 to 2021 were characterised and related to annual variation. Parameters included the total electrical conductivity, pH, colour, water content, phenolic content, ferric ion reducing power and ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant capacity. Differences in the volatile profile according to production year were identified by PCA analysis showing three separate clusters for samples from 2015, 2016 and 2019 and one common cluster for samples from 2017 to 2018. All analysed parameters were significantly related to production year. ANOVA analysis indicated that the annual rainfall and annual solar exposure differed significantly for the investigated production years. Linear regression showed a significant, positive correlation between annual solar exposure and electrical conductivity (R 2 = 0.81) and correlations between annual rainfall and solar exposure with mean concentrations of six honey constituents with R 2 > 0.87. • The volatile profile of leatherwood honey reflects variability in annual climate. • Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity peak in certain production years. • Water content, pH, EC and colour differ significantly across production years. • EC was positively correlated with solar exposure (R 2 = 0.81). • Six volatile compounds correlated with rainfall/solar exposure with R 2 > 0.87.